Apparatus for producing a coffee infusion



Dec. 3, 1968 P. NADELSON 3,413,903

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COFFEE INFUSION Filed March 1, 1965 6Sheets-Sheet 1 Y 42 I I 20 1-1-353 FIG. I 12 f::: 14 5 I Ii m INVENTOR.PHILIP NADELSON ATTORNEY Dec. 3, 1968 P. NADELSON APPARATUS FORPRODUCING A COFFEE INFUSION 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1,

INVENTOR. PHILIP NADELSON ATTORNEY Dec. 3, 1968 P. NADELSON 3,413,908

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COFFEE INFUSION Filed March 1, 1965 6Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVENTOR. PHILIP NADELSON ATTORNE/ Dec. 3, 1968 P.NADELSON APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COFFEE INFUSION Filed March 1, 1965 6Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. PHILIP NADELSON ATTORNEY Dec. 3, 1968 P.NADELSONQ 3,413,908

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COFFEE INFUSION Filed March 1, 1965 eSheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. PHILIP NADELSON ATTORNEY Dec. 3; 1968 P.NADELSQN 3,4

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COFFEE INFUSION Filed March 1, 1965 6Sheets-Sheet 6 244 M 23B 242 a; 230- 23s 1 23s ,zse 2767Z\ 212- *2ea 27s0 wave 233 FIG. 9

INVENTOR. PHILIP NIADELSON ATTORNEY United States Patent Oifice3,413,908 Patented Dec. 3, 1968 3,413,908 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ACOFFEE INFUSION Philip Nadelson, 28-16 34th St., Long Island City, NY.11103 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 119,402,

June 26, 1961. This application Mar. 1, 1965, Ser.

12 Claims. (Cl. 99297) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus forproducing a beverage infusion comprising an urned portion, having, inturn, a liquid reservoir, a flared portion extending upwardly andoutwardly from said liquid reservoir, a peripheral flange extendingupwardly from said flared portion and a seat at the juncture betweensaid flared portion and said peripheral flange; a pouring spout beinglocated along said peripheral flange and above the seat defined by thejuncture between the flange and the flared portion; the angle ofinclination and length of said flared portion being chosen to provide arapid by-pass between the container and the flared portion upon theupward stroke of said container; the area of the by-pass about thecontainer at the location of said flared portion being suflicient toenable the liquid caused to flow upwardly by the container on its upwardstroke to enter the by-pass and return to the liquid reservoir withoutentering the cover portion, enabling the cover portion to remain cleanand free of liquid, in the reservoir; said liquid reservoir furthercomprising a cover portion disposed in an hermetically sealedrelationship with respect to said urned portion, said cover portionbeing particularly adapted to be disposed in an hermetically sealedrelationship with respect to said peripheral flange, and upon said seat;and a container particularly adapted to be reciprocated through at leastone cycle relative to a liquid base disposed in said liquid reservoir;the dimensions of said container and said liquid reservoir being chosento define a minimum by-pass therebetween; and wherein said containercomprises a top portion; a bottom portion; and a center portionextending between said top and bottom portions; and wherein said top andbottom portions each comprise at least one mesh insert, the insert insaid top portion being recessed, and the insert in said bottom portionprotruding therefrom.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applicationSer. No. 119,402, filed June 26, 1961, and entitled Coffee MakingDevice.

The present invention pertains, generally, to apparatus for producing abeverage infusion, and, more particularly, to apparatus for deliveringan infusion of coffee.

Coffee as a beverage is enjoyed because of the cooperation between theolfactory organs, and the gustatory nerves. The latter, which areresponsible for the sense of taste, reacts or recognizes onlyingredients that are sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. The coffee beanreleases caffeine, which has a bitter taste. Caramelized sugar, whichimparts some sweetness to the brew, and charred cellulose, both of whichare released during the roasting process, are primarily responsible forthe color of the infusion. Other ingredients are acidic in nature,imparting sourness to the infusion. It will therefore be realized thatmaximum pleasure from an infusion of coffee is derived from the bouquetof aromatic ingredients, held in solution or adsorbed on the surface ofthe infusion, to which the sense of smell or gustatory nerves responds.These pleasure producing ingredients are the water soluble oils,volatile oils, and

certain fat contents contained in the coffee bean. Thus, as isconsidered readily apparent, it is necessary to skillfully capture andretain such ingredients in a water base, so that any resulting beverageinfusion will possess the requisite properties, such as aroma and taste.

The fact that the coffee bean contains a maximum amount of theaforementioned aromatic-producing ingredients at the time of harvest,and that these ingredients are only released when the bean is roasted,since it is only at that time that they are molecularly altered to asuflicient extent as to be available in an infusion, is wellestablished. However, as aging of a roasted bean occurs, theseingredients volatize, especially when exposed to the atmosphere. Theessential oils and other desirable ingredients available for theresulting infusion or brew thus decreases with time, so that it can besaid the use of an aged roasted bean produces a stale beverage. Any lossin these essential ingredients is accelerated if the bean is fractured,as by grinding. This is particularly true since the ground bean, havingmany times the surface area of the whole bean, will rapidly dissipateits .oil content upon exposure to the atmosphere by evaporation andoxidation.

As hereinbefore pointed out, the pleasure derived from a coffee infusionis primarily the result of the response by the olfactory organs to thearomatic ingredients contained therein, the sense of smell and tasteconjointly responding to flavor in the infusion. The most successfulbrew must therefore be one that contains a maximum amount of theavailable essential oils and other such pleasure producing ingredients.However, during the roasting process, the coffee bean sustains a loss ofapproximately 16% by weight, such loss bearing with it a substantialamount of the aromatic ingredients, that is, the volatile oils, watersoluble oils, fats, and of the like, developed during that process. Thisis at least partially demonstrated by the odor emitted during a roastingprocess.

Accordingly, the brewing process, and the apparatus for performing thisfunction must be such as. to utilize the whole of a freshly roastedcoffee bean. That is, the time during which the freshly roasted bean isexposed to oxidation and moisture contact should be reduced to aminimum. Moreover, during the actual brewing process, every effortshould be made to retain those essential oils and other aromaticingredients not lost during the roasting process, thus retaining as muchof the available aroma and flavor as is possible. Accordingly, any fumesthat result from the application of heat during the brewing process,which inherently acts as a carrier of the aromaticproducing volatileoils, should not be allowed to dissipate, but rather, are to be retainedand infused into the brew. At the same time, and during the brewingprocess, ambient conditions should be excluded from their applicationupon the ground and freshly roasted bean to thus preclude anydeleterious alteration of the beans chemical structure during that step.

A further consideration with respect to the brewing process, and a mostsalient one, is to maintain the coffee bean in a roasted and groundstate in intimate contact with a quantity or volume of water at aspecified temperature. It has been found that optimum results areobtained by precluding such intimate contact between the water andcoffee bean until the former reaches a predetermined temperature.However, until such temperature is reached, the criteria remains thatthe application of ambient conditions upon the coffee bean should beprecluded. Accordingly, by disposing the coffee bean in an hermeticallysealed enclosure when the water reaches the desired temperature, andmaintaining this hermetic condition all during the infusing time, duringwhich time a most intimate relationship between the bean and the wateris developed, the volatized oils will be retained in a substantiallyideal atmosphere during extraction, an atmosphere that precludes notonly their escape, but any atmospheric alteration of the molecularstructure of the bean.

It will now be understood that the capture, containing and theutilization of the aforementioned oils and other aromatic ingredients ofthe ground and freshly roasted coffee bean is a most criticaldesideratum in obtaining a most successful coffee infusion. During theactual brewing or infusion, beans are disposed within a container, andthe ingredients extracted therefrom. In order to obtain optimum resultsin the extraction of the available essential ingredients, not only is itnecessary to present and maintain an intimate relationship between thecoffee bean and the liquid, but also requisite is the preclusion of anysubstantial by-pass of the liquid around and about the container thatholds the coffee bean. A minimum by-passing of the liquid, therefore,will insure that the maximum essential aromatic gases, oils, and fatswill be extracted. The hermetically sealed environment will thus insurethe desirable retention, re-absorption and adhesion of the gasesrelative to the fluid extract.

It can be seen, therefore, that maintaining an intimate relationshipbetween the coffee bean and a water base, which can be accomplished byreducing to a minimum the extent to which the water base is allowed toby-pass the container in which the coffee bean is disposed during theactual brewing or infusing step, is responsible for an extraction of themaximum available essential oils. This is relatively impossible toaccomplish if the coffee bean is disposed in a stationary container, andthe water base acted upon so as to cause it to rise towards the coffeebean. In the first instance, this requires boiling of the water base,necessitating a prevailing temperature in excess of 200 degreesFahrenheit. Rather than a prevailing temperature in that range, it hasbeen found that an ideal prevailing temperature for a coffee infusionduring the actual brewing step is in the range of 190 degreesFahrenheit. Moreover, boiling of the water base causes a turbulentaction that reduces the uniformity of the contact between the coffeebean and the water base. Optimum results can, however, be achieved byreversing the infusing step, that is, by translating the container inwhich the bean is disposed first into the water base, and then outwardlythereof. In this manner, practically all of the water has passed throughthe coffee bean. When the container is then translated outwardly fromthe water base, the latter will again have passed through the coffeebean, at the same time enabing most of the infused or brewed coffee todrain off. There results, therefore, a complete wettingthrough of thecoffee bean, while yet precluding the floating of the bean on thesurface of the water base.

An ideal coffee infusion can be rich and strong, but yet mellow. Thesecharacteristics will result from producing a coffee infusion having inmind each and every one of the foregoing criteria. With particularrespect to the latter characteristic, namely, mellowness, and inaddition to precuding the application of the atmosphere during theactual brewing step, other criteria are signficant, such as the speed ofextraction, and the type of coffee grind. Thus, over-exposure, or forthat matter under-exposure of the coffee bean in intimate relationshipwith the water base can result in a coffee brew that is less than ideal.Again, it is emphasized that this depends upon the type of grind. Forexample, a fine grind has the least aromatic element content, while acoarser grind contains more aromatic element, but also deteriorates at aslower rate. Accordingly, it is desirable that the number of times orcycles that the coffee bean is wet-through in the water base be capableof selection, it being understood that a cycle comprises a translationof the coffee bean into the water base and thence outwardly therefrom.In this manner, the type of coffee grind will be suited, at the sametime insuring that the maximum desirable elements are permitted to beinfused within the water base, short of allowing an infusion ofundesirable elements of the coffee bean.

Having in mind each and every one of the foregoing considerations, itwill be understood that a primary object of the present invention is toprovide apparatus for producing a beverage infusion, such as, forexample, an infusion of coffee, said apparatus being so devised,constructed and arranged as to skillfully capture and retain the bouquetof aromatic pleasure producing ingredients of a coffee bean, such as thewater soluble oils, volatile oils, and certain fat contents, enablingthe presentation of a beverage infusion that Will present the maximumrequisite characteristics of aroma and taste.

Another primary object of this invention, in addition to each and everyone of the foregoing, is to provide apparatus for producing a beverageinfusion, such as, for example, an infusion of coffee, said apparatusbeing so devised, constructed and arranged as to be capable of utilizingthe whole of a freshly roasted coffee bean, enabling the time duringwhich the bean is exposed to oxidation and moisture contact to besubstantially reduced to a minimum.

Yet another primary object of the present invention, in addition to eachand every one of the foregoing, is to provide apparatus for producing abeverage infusion, such as, for example, an infusion of coffee, saidapparatus being so devised, constructed and arranged as to be capable ofcapturing, containing and utilizing the fumes that result from theapplication of heat during the brewing process, and act as a carrier ofthe aromatic-producing volatile oils, and infusing them into the brew.

Furthermore, it is a primary object of this invention to provideapparatus for producing a beverage infusion, such as, for example, aninfusion of coffee, said apparatus being so devised, constructed andarranged as to exclude ambient conditions during the brewing process,and their application upon the ground and freshly roasted coffee bean,to preclude the application of oxygen and moisture, and a resultingalteration of the chemical structure of the bean.

Still further, it is a primary object of the present invention toprovide apparatus for producing a beverage infusion, such as, forexample, an infusion of coffee, said apparatus being so devised,constructed and arranged as to preclude intimate contact between aground and freshly roasted coffee bean and a water base until the latterreaches a predetermined temperature by disposing the bean in anhermetically sealed atmosphere, and maintaining this atmosphericcondition all during the infusion time, during which a most intimaterelationship is developed and maintained between the coffee bean and awater base, enabling the escape of the carrier fumes to be precluded,further enabling the carrier fumes to be captured, contained, utilizedand infused into the coffee brew, further enabling an atmosphericalteration of the molecular structure of the coffee bean to beprecluded.

Additionally, a primary object of this invention is to provide apparatusfor producing a beverage infusion, such as, for example, an infusion ofcoffee, said apparatus being so devised, constructed and arranged as toenable the extraction of the maximum available essential aromatic gases,oils and fats by precluding a substantial by-pass of the water base withrespect to a container in which the coffee bean is disposed, furtherenabling a complete wetting-through of the coffee bean in the water basefor each cycle of the container with respect thereto thus insuring thatthe maximum available essential aromatic-producing contents of thecoffee bean are infused.

Another primary object of this invention is to provide apparatus forproducing a beverage infusion, such as, for example, an infusion ofcoffee, said apparatus being so devised, constructed and arranged as tobe capable of selecting, pre-determining or adjusting the number ofcycles of a container within which the coffee bean is particularlyadapted to be disposed with respect to a water base, enabling the lengthof time during which the coffee bean is disposed in an intimaterelationship with respect to said water base to be controlled, furtherenabling the provision of a method and apparatus for producing aninfusion of coffee from various coffee grinds, such as fine grinds,coarse grinds, and the like, still further enabling a rich, strong butmellow infusion to be obtained.

The invention resides in the combination, construction, arrangement anddisposition of the various component parts and elements incorporated inapparatus for producing a bevarge infusion, such as an infusion ofcoffee, as constructed in accordance herewith. The present inventionwill better be understood, and objects and important features other thanthose specifically enumerated above, will become apparent whenconsideration is given to the following detailed description, which whentaken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, describe, disclose, showand illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and Whatis presently considered to be the best mode of practicing the principlesthereof. Other embodiments or modifications may be suggested to thosehaving the benefit of the teachings herein, and such other embodimentsor modifications are intended to be reserved especially as they fallwithin the scope and spirit of the subjoined claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view, partially in elevation, of an urnconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention,illustrating the same as being applied to a manual method for producinga beverage infusion;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a container particularly adapted to beoperatively disposed within the urn of FIG. 1 within which a coffee beanis particularly adapted to be disposed;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom elevational view of the container illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a working head constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the working head shown in FIG. 5,with certain parts having been removed to clearly illustrate theinterior details of construction thereof;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the working head shown in FIG. 5,with the same parts having been removed to again clearly illustrate theinterior details of construction thereof;

FIG. 8 is a partial front elevational view of the working head asillustrated in FIG. 6, illustrating in greater detail the positional andoperating relationshlp between certain interior details of construction;and

FIG. 9 is a partial side elevational view, aga n showing in greaterdetail the positional and operatlng relationship between certaininterior details of construction.

With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there isillustrated therein an urn constructed in accordance with the principlesof the present invention, and generally designated by the referencecharacter 11 At the outset, it will be understood that the urn isparticularly adapted for use in the home, in which case it will becapable of manual operation, as will hereinafter be described, as wellas being particularly adapted for industrial or commercial use, in whichinstance the urn will be operatively associated with an automaticworking head, also hereinafter to be described. It will in addition beunderstood, at this point, that the urn itself in conjunction withcertain othercomponent parts that enable it to be operated manuallycomprise an apparatus for producing a beverage infusion. An apparatusfor producing a beverage infusion is also presented when the urn is usedin conjunction with the Working head, hereinafter to be described, inwhich case, when the apparatus is used commercially or industrially, thebeverage infusion is automatically produced.

The urn 10 comprises a generally cylindrically configured lower liquidreservoir 12 that can be fabricated of any suitable material, andpreferably is fabricated of a non-corrosive material, such as metal,glass, and the like. The lower liquid reservoir comprises a handle 14that may be of any suitable construction, and is particularly adapted tobe mounted upon the reservoir in any suitable manner, as through themedium of a band 16.

The reservoir 12 further comprises a radially outwardly flared portion18 extending generally upwardly and outwardly from the location at whichthe handle 14 is illustrated as being positioned upon the cylindricalportion of the urn, though it will be understood that the handle can bepositioned at any location along its height. The angle of inclination ofthe flared portion 18 is of particular importance, as will more fully bedescribed hereinafter. Another cylindrical portion 20 extends upwardlyfrom the flared portion 18. The junction between the flared portion 18and the cylindrical portion 20 is so constructed and configured as topresent an annular shelf or seat 22 upon which a cover 24 isparticularly adapted to rest or be seated. The cylindrical portion 20itself comprises a spout or pouring lip 25 that may be positioned at anylocation along its annulus, though preferably it is disposed in oppositerelationship with respect to the handle 14, for reasons that areconsidered readily apparent. The location or position of the spout 25 isimportant in that it is disposed above the flared portion 18 and theseat 22. This is true since the dimensions of the cover 24 and thecylindrical portion 20 are chosen so that a tight fit therebetween ispresented, thus enabling the provision of an hermetic seal at thelocation of the seat 22. Thus, during the actual brewing process, thehermetic seal between the cover 24 and the seat 22 precludes anyundesirable escape of the aromatic-producing elements that are releasedfrom the coffee bean as a result of the application of heat thereto. Inaddition, the infusion cannot be poured from the um 10, through themedium of the spout 25, until the process is completed, and the cover 24removed therefrom.

As hereinbefore pointed out, the um 10 is particularly adapted for bothhome use, and industrial or commercial use. Accordingly, and withcontinued reference now to the former instance, the cover 24 comprisesan annular or generally cylindrically configured side portion 26 and aroof or ceiling portion 28. An aperture 30 extends centrally through theportion 28, within which there is fixedly positioned a bushing 32. Thebushing may be of any suitable construction enabling it to be adjusted.That is, the bushing 32 preferably is of the type that enables thecompressive force applied to a flexible gasket 34 to be increased ordecreased. In this manner, it now being pointed out that the gasketpreferably is fabricated of a material enabling it to function ofcleaning a rod 36 that is particularly adapted to be reciprocallymovable with respect thereto, the hermetic relationship between thecover portion 24 and the portion 20 of the urn 10 will not be disturbed.The rod 36, outwardly of the urn 10, comprises a handle 38 for purposesthat are considered readily apparent. The roof or ceiling portion 28 ofthe cover 24 further comprises an annular rest or seat 40 fabricated ofplastic, for example, enabling an operator to hold the cover portion inposition against the upward force of the rod and container as registeredby the liquid in the liquid reservoir 12.

It will now be understood that the cylindrical portion 20, which now maybe defined as a vertically extending peripherally flanged lip, having aspout 25, can be said to define, or form, an open end of the liquidreservoir 12. This flanged lip extends upwardly from one end of theflared portion 18, the other and lower end thereof being particularlyadapted to serve as a line guide for the level of the liquid adapted tobe disposed within the reservoir. While the um 10 is illustrated ascomprising a spout 25 for pouring purposes, it will be understood thatthe urn may in addition, or in the alternative, comprise a faucet (notshown) disposed at the lower region of the reservoir.

Again it is emphasized that the angle of inclination and the height orlength of the flared portion 18 is of primary significance, as is thelocational position of the seat 22 and the spout 25, and the dimensionsof the peripheral flange with respect to the dimensions of the coverportion 24. And, with respect to the latter, it is again emphasized thatthe relationship between the cover portion and the peripheral flange issuch as to present an hermetic seal therebetween, so that the fitbetween these elements may now be defined as a telescoping friction fit.As a result, during the brewing process or infusing step, the spout 25is effectively sealed.

With particular reference now to FIGS. 2 through 4, there is illustratedtherein a container generally designated by the reference character 42within which there is particularly adapted to be disposed a quantity ofcoffee bean for producing the beverage infusion. The container orenclosure 42 is particularly, adapted to be removably operativelyassociated with the rod or carrier rod 36, and to that end, the lattercomprises a plurality of apertures 44 and 46. In the illustrated andexemplary form of the container 42, the same comprises a top and bottomportion 48 and 50, respectively, the former of which comprises, in turn,a mounting block 52 extending upwardly therefrom. The block 52 comprisesa vertically disposed bore 54 within which the lower end of the carrierrod 36 is particularly adapted to be disposed. Additionally, ahorizontally disposed bore 56 extends through the block 52, and isparticularly adapted to be disposed in alignment with the aperture 46extending through the rod 36. A captive slide pin 58 of generallyU-shaped configuration, and comprising a longer leg 60 and a shorter leg62 is particularly adapted to perform the function of enabling thecontainer 42 to be removably operatively associated with the rod 36. Tothis end, the longer leg 60- of the pin 58 is particularly adapted toextend through the aperture 44 of the rod 36, the leg comprising afinger 64 at one end thereof to preclude misplacing or losing the pin58. The leg 60 is slidable within the aperture 44, so that when thelower end of the rod 36 is positioned within the bore 54 of the block52, the pin may be moved to the left, as viewed in the drawing, and theleg 62 disposed within and extending through the aligned aperture 46 andbore 56. The ease and facility with which the container 42 can beoperatively associated and disassociated with and from the rod 36 is nowconsidered readily apparent.

In addition to the top and bottom portions 48 and 50, the container 42further comprises a center ring of annular or cylindrical configurationthat is particularly adapted to extend between the top and bottomportions 48 and 50. The top portion 48 comprises a plurality of recessedapertures 68 within each of which there is fixedly disposed a meshinsert 70 that may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as wire,cloth and the like. Similarly, the bottom portion 50 comprises aplurality of protruding or projecting apertures 72, within each of whicha mesh insert 70 is particularly adapted to be fixedly dis posed. In theillustrated and exemplary form of the container 42, the top portion 48comprises 3 of the apertures 68, with the bottom portion 50 comprising asimilar number. It will, however, be understood that the number ofapertures can be varied. The significant criteria with respect to theapertures is that the apertures in the top portion be recessed inwardlytowards the container 42, and the apertures in the bottom portion 50protrude or project outwardly therefrom, to direct the liquid base intothe container on its upward stroke, and to preclude any of the liquidbase from being trapped therewithin.

The top portion 48 comprises further a plurality of fingers of generallyL-shaped configuration, each of which comprises a horizontally extendingshorter leg 76. The

and 78 is such as to dispose the legs above the legs 76. The fingers 74and 78 are rotatable, for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

The center ring or center portion 66 of the container- 42 comprises aplurality of prongs 82, the number of which correspond with the numberof fingers 74 or 78. The prongs are fixedly positioned with respect tothe center portion, and extend in a direction generally centrallythereof. The position of the prongs with respect to the legs 76 of thefingers 74, and the legs 80 of the fingers 78 is such as to dispose theprongs between the legs when the latter are disposed in parallel withrespect to one another, as particularly illustrated in FIG. 3. It willnow be understood that the container 42. comprises a plurality ofseparate portions 48,50 and 66 which are particularly adapted to beremovably operatively associated with respect to one another. To thisend, the fingers 74 and 78 are first rotated to a position enabling theprongs 82 to be disposed at a location below that of the legs 80, andabove that of the legs 76. The fingers 74 and 78 can then be rotatablytranslated to a position in which the legs are disposed in parallel withrespect to one another, and the prongs extend therebetween. Though notshown, stops or abutments can be positioned upon the top and bottomportions 48 and 50 to define the limit of rotatable translation of thefingers 74 and 78. To insure that the fingers 74 and 78 will remain inthe position illustrate-d in FIG. 3 once the prongs 82 are disposedbetween the legs 76 and 80, a suitable detent Or other locking mechanism(also not shown) can be provided.

With continued reference again to FIG 1, it will now be understood thatthe diametral dimensional extent or diameter of the container 42 ischosen so that, when the container is disposed or positioned within thereservoir 12 for reciprocal movements therewithin, only a minimalby-pass for liquid between the container and the wall of the reservoirwill be presented. Thus, during the actual infusion or brewing process,the container will be reciprocated within the liquid reservoir 12, andbetween a position in which the container is disposed within the coverportion 24, and a position in which it bottoms-out in the reservoir,with the handle 38 in the latter position coming to rest upon the restor abutment 40. The number of reciprocations of the container within theliquid contained in the reservoir 12 will determine the strength of theinfusion or the brew. This can be determined after a number of trial anderror tests, and for example the results of such tests may be marked ina suitable legend along the wall of the reservoir 12 to facilitate theuse and operation of the urn 10, and a determination as to how manyreciprocating movements of the container 42 will be required for aninfusion or brew that presents the desired strength for a particulargrind or coffee bean.

As hereinbefore pointed out, the lower end of the flared portion 18 canbe used as an indicator in determining the level to which a liquid base,such as water, is to be filled. At this point, the primary significanceof the flared portion, its angle of inclination and its height will beunderstood, in that, these dimensions or values are chosen to enable theliquid base contained in the reservoir 12 to rise only to just short ofthe upper end of the flared portion, at the seat or juncture 22, withoutentering into the cover portion 24. That is, if the liquid base in thereservoir 12 is filled to the lower end of the flared portion 18, adownward reciprocating movement of the container 42 until it bottoms-outwill cause the liquid base to rise, but, because of the chosen value ofthe angle of inclination and the height of the flared portion 18, thelevel of the liquid base will rise no further than just short of theupper end of that portion. Accordingly, throughout the infusion orbrewing process, the cover portion 24 will remain clean. Any tendencyfor the liquid brew to be dispensed from the spout 25, or to overflowthe peripheral flange 20, will be precluded in view of the hermeticrelationship between the flange and the cover portion 24.

As hereinbefore pointed out, it is desirable that the coffee beancontained in the container 24 be completely wet-through each time it isreciprocated into the liquid base contained in the reservoir, and thencereciprocated outwardly thereof and into the cover portion 24, That is,for each complete cycle of the container 42, the quantity of coffee beandisposed therewithin will be completely wet-through twice. This,however, depends upon the degree of by-pass between the container andthe wall of the reservoir. As pointed out above, the diametraldimensions of the container 42 and the reservoir 12 are chosen so thatonly a minimal by-pass Will be presented, thus enabling sufficientfreedom of movement therebetween, but precluding any significant orsubstantial amount of by-pass of the liquid brew or liquid base as thecontainer is reciprocate-d therewithin. Thus, rather than being able toflow along the container, the liquid in the reservoir will besubstantially completely forced through the container, thus causing acomplete wetting-through of the coffee beans contained therewithin onthe downward stroke thereof. The same is true when the container isreciprocated outwardly of the liquid in the reservoir.

The flared portion 18 serves another significant purpose as well. Thus,a complete cycle of the container 42 with respect to the liquidcontained in the reservoir 12 comprises a downward linear movement untilthe container bottoms-out in the reservoir, and an upward linearmovement. With respect to this latter movement, it is desirable that thecontainer be completely lifted out of the liquid contained in thereservoir, and lifted into the cover portion 24 until it can be liftedno further. It is important that the container be lifted completely outof the liquid in the reservoir, since lifting it as far as it will gogives the liquid that has entered the container through the mesh inserts70 a chance to drain-oif from the coffee beans contained therewithin.Thus, the depth of the cover portion 24 is chosen so that a suflicientdistance for lifting the container to such an extent as to present thedesired drain-off time will be presented. The level of liquid in thereservoir will thus be substantially even with that of the liquid levelline at the lower end of the flared portion at the beginning of eachcycle of wetting-through of the coffee bean, that is, as the containeris again reciprocated in a direction to cause it to enter the liquid. Itis considered readily apparent, therefore, that a uniform beverageinfusion or brew will be produced. The drain-off time is of course afunction of the speed of movement of the container as each cycle isinitiated and concluded. In the manual operation of the apparatus forproducing a beverage infusion, the speed may well vary since in a manualoperation it is hardly capable of accurate regulation. However, whenautomatically operated, as will hereinafter be described, the speed ofeach cycle of wetting-through of the coffee beans disposed within thecontainer can be regulated, so that, when taken in conjunction with thedepth of the cover portion, the height of the flared portion 18, and theother dimensional relationships hereinbefore alluded to, the actualinfusing or brewing process will be substantially completely uniform ingenerally every respect. With respect to the flared portion 18, it willnow be understood that an additional function or purpose to be servedthereby is to guide, lead or center the container with respect to theliquid reservoir 12 as the downward stroke portion of eachwetting-through cycle is initiated. And, while the degree of by-passbetween the liquid reservoir 12 and the container 42 is maintained at aminimum, a substantial bypass between the reservoir and the container ispresented at the location of the flared portion 18. A rapid increase inthe area between the liquid reservoir and the container is provided atthis location, so that more than sufficient area will be presented forthe by-pass of liquid that is caused to flow around the container uponthe upward stroke portion of a wetting-through cycle thereof. In thismanner, any by-pass of liquid around the container will be limited tothe area of the flared portion 18, thus further insuring that the coverportion 24 will be maintained in a clean condition during the infusionor brewing process.

It will now be understood that an apparatus for producing a beverageinfusion constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention is particularly adapted for home use, and comprises an urn orurn portion 10, a cover portion 24, and a container 42 that isoperatively associated with a carrier rod 36 having a handle 38 enablingthe apparatus to be manually operated. As hereinbefore pointed out, anapparatus for producing a beverage infusion constructed in accordancewith the principles of this invention is equally as well adapted tcommercial or industrial use, in which the beverage infusion isautomatically produce-d. With particular reference now to FIGS. 5through 9, and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts,but wherein such like reference characters are primed, there isillustrated therein a working head assembly generally designated by thereference character 90.

The working head assembly comprises a cover portion 24 that issubstantially identical in construction with the cover portion 24hereinbefore described, disclosed, shown and illustrated. Once again,the cover portion 24' is particularly adapted to be disposed inoperative association with the urn portion 10, and more particularly, inan hermetically sealed relationship with respect to the peripheralflange 20 thereof. A housing 92 is removably positioned upon the roofportion 28 of the cover portion 24', and comprises a front cover portion94 and a rear cover portion 96. The front cover portion 94 comprises endflanges 98 that are particularly adapted to be disposed in overlappingrelationship with respect to similar flanges (not shown) of the rearcover portion 96. These flanges are then particularly adapted to befixedly connected with one another in any suitable manner, as by meansof suitable fasteners (not shown) such as screws, and the like. A topcover portion 100 of a configuration similar to that defined by thefront and rear cover portions 94 and 96 when disposed in the illustratedrelationship with respect to one another is particularlly adapted to beremovably positioned thereupon, to assist in maintaining the coverportions 94 and 96 in their illustrated relationship, and to close theupper end of the housing 90.

The front cover portion 94 comprises a selector pin slot 102, anoperating lever slot 104, a service lever slot 106, and an operatingplunger slot 108, the function and purpose of each of which willhereinafter be more fully described.

With particular reference now to FIG. 7, a side elevation of the workinghead apparatus 90 is illustrated therein with the cover 92 having beenremoved. A base mounting block is fixedly positioned upon the roofportion 28' of the cover portion 24. The block 110 is generally ofrectangular or square configuration, and at each corner there is fixedlyconnected thereto, in any suitable manner, a plurality of verticalstandards 112 extending upwardly therefrom. A cover block 114 ispositioned at the upper end of the standards 112 to thus define an inneropen housing, generally designated by the reference character 116. Amotor housing base mounting block 118 is fixedly connected to andbetween two of the standards 116, to which there is fixedly connected,in turn, a plurality of motor housing standards 120 that extend upwardlytherefrom. The standards 120, at the upper end thereof, are fixedlyconnected to the inner housing cover block or cover plate 114. A motor122 is particularly adapted to be fixedly positioned Within the motorhousing defined by the blocks or plates 118 and 114, the standards 120and a portion of the standards 112. The motor may be of any suitableconstruction, and for example will comprise a fan 124 for purposes thatare considered readily apparent. The motor 122 is particularly adaptedto be fixedly positioned upon a transmission or reduction gearingassembly 124. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner, as forexample through the medium of mounting elements 126. The motor 122comprises an output shaft 128 that is particularly adapted to beoperatively associated with the assembly 124 in a conventional manner.The assembly 124 comprises an output shaft 130, the rotational velocityof which will have been suitably reduced from that of the output shaft128 of the motor 122 through the medium of the transmission or reductiongearing assembly 124, in a manner that is considered readily apparent tothose skilled in the art.

The motor 122, through the medium of the assembly 124, is particularlyadapted to cause the operation of a container driving assembly generallydesignated by the reference character 132. The container drivingassembly comprises an endless driving chain or belt 134. The belt 134extends between and about a plurality of driving sprockets 136, one ofwhich is clearly illustrated in FIG. 6. The driving sprocket at theupper end of the belt 134 is particularly adapted to be driven by theoutput shaft 130, and to this end, there is positioned upon the mountingplate or block 118 a shaft mounting block 138. A sprocket driving shaft140 is rotatably journaled within the block 138 and is rotatablyoperatively associated with the sprocket 136 at the upper end of thebelt 134 in any suitable manner. The shaft 140 is particularly adaptedto be non-rotatably operatively associated with the shaft 130, and tothat end, a coupling 142 is operatively associated therewith and extendstherebetween. A fastening element 144 is keyed with respect to thecoupling 142, to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the shafts140 and 130. Another shaft mounting block 146 is fixedly positioned ormounted upon the mounting plate or block 110, from which an output shaft148 extends, upon which the driving sprocket 136 at the lower end of thebelt 134 is particularly adapted to be mounted. The shaft 148 isparticularly adapted to be removably operatively associated with theblock 146, and to this end, there is provided a fastening element 150.While the sprockets 136 have hereinbefore been referred to as drivingsprockets, it will now be understood that it is the sprocket 136 at theupper end of the belt 134 that is a driving sprocket that sprocket beingdriven by the shaft 140, while the sprocket at the lower end of the belt134 is a driven sprocket.

The rotational translation of this driven sprocket is caused by thetranslation of the belt 134, as is now considered readily apparent.

It will now be understood that the motor 122 and the gear reductionassembly 124 together with its component part, such as the fan 123, andthe output shaft 130, comprise an operating assembly for the containerdriving assembly 132. It is particularly within the scope of the presentinvention that this operating assembly be removable from its housing, asdefined hereinabove, substantially as a unit, with a view towards beingable to clean, repair, and otherwise service this operating assemblywith maximum facility, To this end, and though not shown, the gearreduction assembly 124 can be fixedly positioned upon a plate in anysuitable manner, the plate, in turn, being removably connected to theplates or blocks 114 and 118. As a result, by simply disassociating theshafts and 140, which can be accomplished with facility by firstremoving the fastening element 144 that enables the coupling 142 to keythe shafts 130 and with respect to one another, and then disassociatingthis plate from the blocks 114 and 118, the plate (not shown) can beremoved from the motor housing along with the motor and the gearreduction assembly.

As hereinbefore pointed out, the container driving assembly 132 isparticularly adapted to cause the operation of a container, and moreparticularly, to cause the operation of the container 42 with respect tothe urn portion 10 of the automatic apparatus for producing a beverageinfusion. In speaking of the operation of the container 42, it will beremembered that such operation reciprocating movements of the containerbetween a position in which it has been lifted out of the liquidreservoir 12, and is disposed completely within the cover portion 24,and a position in which the container has been reciprocated into theliquid reservoir, and is bottomed-out therewithin. Beginning with theposition illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1, and terminating with thatposition after the container has been reciprocated to its bottomed-outposition, and thence to the position illustrated in phantom, it will beunderstood that two such reciprocating movements of the containercomprise a complete cycle of operation thereof. And, it will further beunderstood that such a complete cycle of reciprocating movement of thecontainer is defined as a complete cycle of wetting-through of thecoffee beans contained within the container. Accordingly, the containerdriving assembly 132 comprises, still further, a follower assembly 152that is particularly adapted to be vertically reciprocated upon and withrespect to a vertically disposed follower assembly guide rod 154. Thefollower assembly 152 comprises a plurality of plates 156 between whicha follower 158 is particularly adapted to extend. The follower 158 isoperatively connected with one of the links of the belt 132 in anysuitable manner, and extends therefrom into the aforesaid positionbetween the plates 156 to drive the follower assembly 152. A third plate160 is disposed below the plates 156 to thus provide a space between itand a lower one of the plates 156, enabling the carrier rod 36' to beoperatively connected with the follower assembly, in a mannerhereinafter to be described. The follower assembly comprises, stillfurther, a follower sleeve 162 fixedly connected to the assembly in anysuitable manner, which sleeve is particularly adapted to be reciprocallymovably mounted upon and with respect to the guide rod 154. A camdriving block 164 is fixedly positioned between the plates 156, andcomprises a cam driving lug 166 extending outwardly therefrom, thefunction of which will hereinafter be described. The block 164 servesthe function of a spacer in that it extends between the plates 156. Anyplay between the follower 158 and the plates 156 is therefore reduced toand maintained at a minimum. The plates 156 and 158 are par ticularlyadapted to be disposed in fixed spaced parallel relationship withrespect to one another, with the space between the plates 156 beingdefined in the manner just described. The space between the lower plate156 and the plate 158 may be maintained at a fixed value in any suitablemanner, as by means of a spacing nut (not shown).

The carrier rod 36', as pointed out hereinbefore, is particularlyadapted to be removably operatively asso ciated with the followerassembly 152. To this end, the plate 160 has an aperture through whichthe carrier rod is particularly adapted to extend. Similarly, the upperend of the rod 36' comprises an aperture, so that, when the upper end ofthe rod extends into the space between the lower plate 156, and theplate 160, a fastener element 168, such as a screw, can be insertedthrough the aperture to preclude the accidental disassembly of thecarrier rod 36' with respect to the follower assembly during theinfusion or brewing process. A bushing 170 is adjustably positioned uponthe block or plate 110, and comprises an aperture extending therethroughthrough which the carrier rod 36 is particularly adapted to extend, andthen enters the cover portion 24. The bushing 170 comprises a bracket172 of generally U-shaped configuration, and a gasket 174 of tubularconfiguration. The gasket may be fabricated of any suitable material, asfor example Teflon, and the like. As pointed out. the bushing 170 isadjustable in that it is particularly adapted to perform the function ofcompressing the gasket 174 so that a desired frictional but yet slidablerelationship will be presented between the gasket and the carrier rod36. To that end, the bracket 172 may be mounted on the plate 110 in anysuitable manner, as through the medium of cap screws 176. Thisrelationship between the gasket 174 and the carrier rod 36 issignificant in that it will assist or aid in maintaining thehermetically sealed relationship between the cover portion 24' and theperipheral flange 20 of the urn portion 10.

The four standards 112 define an inner housing 116, as hereinbeforepointed out. A plurality of mounting panels 178 and 180 are fixedlypositioned upon a respective one of the standards 112 located at whatmay be considered the front of the housing 116, these standards beingshown at the left of FIG. 7, as viewed in that figure. With particularreference now to FIG. 6, it will be seen that a selector assemblygenerally designated by the reference character 182 is particularlyadapted to be fixedly mounted or positioned upon the mounting plate 178.The selector assembly comprises a larger plate 184 fixedly positionedupon the plate 178 in any suitable manner, as by means of the fasteningelements 186. The selector assembly 182 comprises, further, a smallerplate 188 that is particularly adapted to be fixedly positioned inforwardly disposed spaced parallel relationship with respect to theplate 184. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner, and, forexample, a plurality of posts 190 (FIG. 7) fixedly positioned upon theplate 184 extends forwardly or outwardly therefrom, the plate 188 beingfixedly connected to the posts in any suitable manner, as through themedium of suitable fastening elements 192. Each of the plates 184 and188 comprises a suitable plurality of horizontally aligned apertures 194through 206, each of which apertures corresponds with a particularpredetermined or preselected number of operating cycles through whichthe container 42 is to be reciprocated. As will hereinafter more fullybe described, the particular number of operating cycles chosen willdepend upon the desired strength of the resulting beverage infusion, andthe particular grind of coffee bean chosen to produce such an infusion.Suffice it to say at the present that the aperture 194 corresponds withthree operating cycles, the aperture 196 with four operating cycles, theaperture 198 with six operating cycles, the aperture 200 with eightoperating cycles, the aperture 202 with 12 operating cycles, theaperture 204 with 16 operating cycles, and the aperture 206 with 24operating cycles. To effect the predetermining or preselecting of thenumber 'of operating cycles, the selector assembly 182 comprises, stillfurther, a selector pin 208 which is particularly adapted to be disposedwithin a preselected one of a 'set of aligned apertures. It will at thispoint be understood that when the outer housing or cover 92 ispositioned as illustrated in FIG. 5, the smaller and forwardly disposedplate 188 will be positioned flush against the inner side of the frontcover portion 94, with the apertures visible through the selector slot102. In addition, the selector pin 208 will extend through this slot, ad be available for ready manipulation.

With continued reference now to FIGS, 5, 6 and 7, a plunger assembly.210 is fixedly mounted or positioned upon the plate 180. The plungerassembly comprises a mounting 'bracket212 fixedly positioned upon theplate 180 in any suitable manner, as through the medium of suitablefastening elements 214. The bracket 212 comprises a horizontal portion216 which is particularly adapted to rest upon the roof or ceilingportion 28 of the cover portion 24', and to extend outwardly therefrom.A plunger sleeve 218 extends downwardly from the horizontal portion 216,within which a plunger 220 is particularly adapted to.be reciprocated.The plunger 220 is spring biased to the position illustrated in thedrawings in any suitable manner, as through the medium of a spring (notshown) disposed within the sleeve 218 between the plunger and theportion 216 of the bracket 212. Upon the application of an upward force,hereinafter to be described, the plunger 220 will be reciprocatedupwardly. The plunger is, as a result of this movement, particularlyadapted to cause a similar movement of a link 222 of generally L-shapedconfiguration. The shorter leg of the link 222 is operatively associatedwith the upper end of the plunger 220 in any suitable manner, as throughthe medium of suitable fasteners 224. Spaces 226 are disposed betweenthe link and the horizontal portion 216 to maintain a fixed spacedparallel relationship between the link and the bracket 212 when theplunger is biased to its normal position in which it extends outwardlyand downwardly of the sleeve 218. The reciprocating movement of the link220 is guided through the medium of a guide rod 228 that extendsvertically through the longer leg thereof.

The link 220 is particularly adapted to cause the operation of avertically reciprocating operating rod 230 that rests upon an end of thelink and can be fixedly connected thereto. The rod 230 reciprocateswithin and is guided in its movement by a guide plate 232 that isfixedly positioned upon the mounting plate in any suitable manner, asthough the medium of suitable fasteners 234. At its upper end, theoperating rod 230 is pivotally connected to a pivotable cam abutment 236in any suitable manner, as through the medium of a pin 238. The abutment236 is, in turn, non-rotatably mounted upon a rotatable shaft 240 thatextends between and is rotatably associated with the legs 242 of aU-shaped bracket 244 that may be fixedly positioned upon the mountingplate 180 in any suitable manner. To facilitate an understanding of thisinvention, the rod 230 will hereinafter be referred to as a cam abutmentoperating rod.

A service switch mounting bracket 246 is fixedly positioned upon themounting plate 180, as through the medium of the fasteners 248, whichbracket is of L-shaped configuration having a leg 250 extendingoutwardly of the mounting plate 180. A normally closed service switch252, which may be of any suitable and conventional construction, isfixedly positioned upon the leg 250 of the bracket 246, and comprises amovable contact 254 that is biased to a position in which the switch isclosed. A flexible spring plate 256 is fixedly connected at one endthereof to the leg 250, as by means of the fastener 258, and along itslength is particularly adapted to bear against the movable contact 254.The other end of the spring plate 256 is particularly adapted to beremovably inserted within a slot 260 of a service switch spring platemounting bracket 262. The service switch spring plate mounting bracket262 comprises another slot 264, enabling the force with which the springplate bears against the contact 254 to be adjusted. The bracket 262 ispivotally mounted or connected at the upper end of a service switchoperating rod 266 that is pivotally mounted upon the mounting plate 180,as for example through the medium of a pivot pin 268.

The service switch operating rod 266 extends through the guide plate 232and is to be guided thereby. A service switch operating rod controllevel 270 is pivotally mounted upon the operating rod 266 at the otherend thereof, and is particularly adapted to be manually operable betweena plurality of positions, hereinafter to be described.

An automatic operation switch 272 is fixedly positioned upon themounting plate 180, as through the medium of suitable fasteners 274. Theswitch 272 may be of any suitable and conventional construction, and forexample may comprise a simple two-position switch having a movablecontact 276 that is particularly adapted to be moved between its twopositions upon the application of some force thereto. In particular, anautomatic switch operating rod 278 is reciprocally mounted within theguide plate 232, and is particularly adapted to be guided in itsmovements thereby. A limit pin or abutment 280 is fixedly positionedupon the rod, and is particularly adapted to perform the function oflimiting the downward movement thereof. The upper end of this rod, whenit is moved in an upward direction, is particularly adapted to contactthe movable cOntaCt 276, and to move it to a position in which theswitch is on. An automatic switch operating rod control level 282 ispivotally connected to the rod 278 at the lower end thereof.

With particular reference again to FIG. 7, it will now be understoodthat the motor 122 and the switches 252 and 272 are particularly adaptedto be disposed in a circuit that is so arranged as to cause the motor tooperate when either one of the switches are in a position to close acircuit with respect thereto. Thus, the switches 252 and 272 will bedisposed in parallel relationship with respect to one another, so thatwhen either of the switches are in an on position, a circuit to themotor will be completed, and the motor will be rendered operative. Tofacilitate construction, repair, and the like, a bank of outlets isfixedly positioned upon the rear face of the mounting plate 180 fromwhich suitable wiring (not shown) can extend for connection to aconventional room outlet. The motor 122 can be connected into one of theoutlets by suitable wiring 286, the switch 252 connected to another ofthe outlets by suitable wiring 288, and the switch 272 connected to thelast of the outlets in the bank 284 by suitable wiring 290. in eachinstance, this may be accomplished in any suitable manner, as throughthe medium of conventional 2-prong plugs 292.

A counter mechanism generally designated by the reference character 300that i particularly adapted to cooperate with the selector assembly 182is positioned u on the the mounting plate 180. The counter or countingmechanism comprises a counting cam 302 of irregular configuration thatis biased in a counterclockwise direction through the medium of a coilspring 304. A counting ratchet wheel 306 is operatively associated withthe counting cam 302, and i particularly adapted to rotate therewith inonly one of a plurality of directions, namely, in a clockwise direction.To this end, a spring biased pawl 308 is rotatably mounted upon thecounting cam 302, and is biased by means of a spring into engagementwith the teeth of the ratchet 306. The teeth are so configured andarranged, as is the pawl 308, as to cause the ratchet to rotate with thecounting cam when the latter is rotated in a clockwise direction throughthe medium of the cam lug 166. A counting pawl 312 is rotatably mountedupon a block 314 that is fixedly positioned upon the mounting plate 180.The pawl 312 is spring biased into engagement with the teeth of theratchet 306 by means of a spring 316. This pawl, and teeth of theratchet 306, are so configured and arranged as to enable the ratchet torotate only in a clockwise direction, but to preclude rotation of theratchet in a counter-clockwise direction. An operating link 318 isnon-rotatably operatively associated with the ratchet 306, and isparticularly adapted to perform the function of moving the contact 276of the switch 272 to an off position. At this point, it will beremembered that the automatic switch operating link 318 and the ratchetwheel 306 are non-rotatably operatively associated with one another, andtogether are rotatable only in a clockwise direction. The counting cam302, however, is rotatably operatively associated with the wheel 306 andthe link 318, is rotatable in each of a plurality of directions, andwhen rotated in a clockwise direction, causes a similar rotationalmovement of the wheel and link because of the pawl 308. This structuralrelationship between these elements may be accomplished in any suitablemanner, and for example may be accomplished by journaling the wheel andthe link as one unit, and the cam as another unit, upon a shaftpositioned upon and ext-ending outwardly from the mounting plate 180. Itwill be understood that this shaft cannot clearly be illustrated in thedrawings, because of the relationship between these parts,

16 and is therefore not shown to preclude confusion in the drawings.

As is now considered readily apparent, the counter assembly 300 is soconstructed and arranged as to enable a substantial selection of thenumber of reciprocating operating cycles through which the container 42will be moved. Thus, the ratchet wheel 306 is provided with fortyeightteeth, and the apertures 194-206 are so positioned as to cause movementof the wheel in multiples of that number. To understand this fully, itmust first be realized that the normal position of the cam 302 is whenthat element is in abutting engagement with the pring 256. In thisposition, the contact 254 causes the switch 252 to open the circuit tothe motor 122. In addition, the switch 272 is in an off position, sothat again the circuit to the motor is open. The motor is thusinoperative. In addition, this position of the cam 302 corresponds witha position of the link 318 in which it is disposed just below thecontact 276 of the switch 272, so that if the switch is moved to an onposition, there will be no interference from this link.

If we assume that the pin 208 is removed, and one of the switches 252 or272 is caused to close a circuit to the motor, then the cam lug 166 willfollow the follower assembly 152 as it, in turn, follows the containerdriving assembly 132 that causes the reciprocation of the container. Thecam 302 being biased in a counter-clockwise direction by the spring 304,it will follow the lug 166 until it abuts against the pivot 268, whichtherefore also performs the function of an abutment or stop for the cam.As this counter-clockwise movement of the cam occurs, the pawl 308 movesalong the teeth of the ratchet wheel 306 until a distance correspondingto twenty-four teeth has been traversed. When the follower assemblybegins its upward movement, the lug 166 will again contact the cam andcause it to rotate in a clockwise direction. In this direction ofmovement of the cam, the wheel 306 and the link 318 will rotate with thecam because the pawl 308 is so configured and arranged, and is springbiased into a position in which it introduces a force in a clockwisedirection against the teeth of the wheel. While the pawl 312 is soconfigured and arranged, and is spring biased into a position in whichit precludes counterclockwise rotation of the wheel 306, it does notpreclude clockwise rotation thereof. Remembering now that, when the camrotates in a counter-clockwise direction, it traverses a distance alongthe wheel 306 equal to twenty-four teeth, or half of its totalperiphery, the same distance will be traversed in a clockwise direction,and thus the counting pawl 312 will count off and traverse thetwenty-four teeth caused to be moved therepast by the pawl 308, whichnow may be considered as a pawl to move or cause the rotationaltranslatin of the wheel 306 in a clockwise direction. Accordingly, whenthe pin 208 is removed, the container 42 will traverse two completeoperating cycles, upon the completion of which the link 318 will betranslated to a position in which it is capable of moving the contact276 of the switch 272 to an off position. The circuit to the motor 122will thus be opened, and the motor therefore will automatically shutoff.

While the pivot 268 functions as an abutment for the cam 302 on theconditions of two operating cycles, the pin 208 will function as such anabutment for each selected number of operating cycles, correspondingwith the various sets of apertures 194206. Thus, if the pin weredisposed in the set of apertures 194, as the lug 166 moves downwardly,the cam would abut the pin 208 after the pawl 308 had moved a distancecorresponding to the traversal of sixteen teeth. As the lug movesupwardly, the pawl 308 would cause these sixteen teeth to move past thecounting pawl 312. Thus, three complete operating cycles of thecontainer would be necessary before the link 318 is again returned to aposition in which it can move the contact 276 to an off position. Thesame analysis applies to the remainder of the sets of apertures 196-206,it now being realized that as the pin 208 is associated with a higherset of apertures, the pawl 308 traverses a lesser number of teeth on thewheel 306, and a greater number of operating cycles up to twenty-four isrequired before the link 318 is again rotatively translated to aposition in which it can move the switch 272 to an 01f position.

There has just been described the manner in which the working head 90functions automatically. Returning now to the plunger assembly 210, itwill be realized that this automatic operation will be available whenthe working head is operatively positioned with respect to the urnportion 10. In such a position, the cover portion 24' will be positionedor disposed with respect to the peripheral flange 20 as is the coverportion 24 illustrated in FIG. 1. However, when the cover portion 24 isso positioned, the upper edge of the peripheral flange 20 causes theplunger 220 to be moved vertically upwardly. Through the medium of thelink 220, the rod 230 will be caused to move upwardly, as a result ofwhich movement the abutment 236 will be caused to pivot in a clockwisedirection as illustrated in FIG. 7. The abutment thus will be moved outof the path of movement of the cam 302, so that automatic operation ofthe working head can be effectuated. The upward movement of the rod 230carries with it a selector plate assembly generally designated by thereference character 320'. This assembly comprises a selector plate 322having a plurality of notches 324, 326 and 328. When the plungerassembly 210, and particularly the plunger 220 is in its normallydisposed downward position, the abutment 236 is disposed in a positionsubstantially adjacent or against the plate 180, thus precludingcounter-clockwise movement of the cam 302, the plate 322 is in adownward position, and thus so too is the automatic switch operatinglever 282. This position of the operating lever 282 is clearlyillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7, and it will now be realized that thisposition of the lever corresponds to an inoperative position thereof inwhich it is partially disposed within the slot 104 in the front coverportion 94. This is to indicate that the working head 90 is not in anautomatic operation position. Thus, even if the lever 282 is grasped,pivoted outwardly of the housing 92, and then moved upwardly, the lengthof the rod 278 is chosen so that maximum upward movement thereof willnot move the contact 276 to turn the switch 272 to an on position.However, when the working head 90 is operatively associated with the urnportion 10, the rod 230 is moved upwardly, as aforesaid, and the couch324 of the plate 322 cams the lever 282 to the dotted line position ofFIGS. 5 and 7. In this automatic operating position, the rod 278 is alsomoved upwardly, so that subsequent grasping of the lever 282, andlifting it vertically upwardly, will cause engagement between the upperend of this rod and the contact 276, thus enabling the switch 272 to bemoved to an on position.

Similarly, when the working head 90 is operatively associated with theurn portion 10, the plate 322 cams the service switch operating lever270 to the dotted line position illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7, in whichposition it is partially disposed within a narrow portion 107 of theslot 106 in the front cover portion 94. In this position, the

lever 270 extends partially into the housing 92, and is thus"inoperative to cause manual operation of the working head. Even if thelever 270 is grasped, and an attempt is made to move the lever, downwardmovement is precluded by the notch 328 of the plate 322. Lateral orpivotal movement of the lever is precluded, since it is disposed, inthis inoperative position, within a notch 233 of the guide plate 232. Afinger plate 235 is fixedly positioned upon the guide plate 232, andextends downwardly therefrom, to insure that lateral or pivotal movementof the lever 270 will be precluded. This is important when it isrealized that, when the lever 270 is pivoted in a counter-clockwisedirection, the spring 256 is caused to move away from the contact 254and the normally biased closed switch 252 will then close a circuittothe motor 122. When the working head is not in operative associationwith the urn portion 10, and the plunger assembly 210 is normally biasedto the position illustrated in the drawings, the plate 322 is allowed tomove downwardly, thus enabling the lever 270 to extend outwardly of thehousing 92. In this position of the plate 322, the operator can electbetween positioning the lever 270 within the notch 326, or within andalong the notch 328. When the lever is located in the former notch, therod 266 is caused to pivot in a clockwise direction, thus moving thespring 256 into firm engagement with the contact 254, insuring that theswitch 252 will be in an open position. The circuit to the motor willthus be open, and it will remain inoperative. However, when the lever270 is disposed within the notch 328, it can be moved laterally towardsthe right, as viewed in FIG. 6, causing pivotal movement of the rod 266in a counter-clockwise direction, thus enabling the switch 252 to closethe circuit to the motor 122. If the lever 270 is laterally movedtowards the left, as viewed in that figure, to the end of the notch 328,the spring will be disposed in engagement with the contact 254 and theforce applied thereto will be just suflicient to open the circuit to themotor. At this point, it is to be remembered that the force the spring256 is capable of applying to the movable contact 254 is capable ofadjustment as through the medium of the slots 260 and 264.

The selector plate assembly 320 comprises a guide plate 330 fixedlypositioned upon the mounting plate The plate 330 comprises a rod guideplate 332 extending outwardly from the plate 180, and being particularlyadapted to just slightly engage the rods 266 and 278. In their verticalmovement, therefore, these rods will reciprocate between this plate 332,and the plate 322, so that their movement will be substantiallyperfectly vertically linear. To insure similar movement of the plate322, the plate 330 comprises a selector plate guide 334 which extendsoutwardly of the plate 180, and upwardly of and in front of the plate322. In conjunction with the guide plate 232, it will now be seen thatthe operation of the working head will be facilitated, in that wastedmovements in other than the desired. and intended direction will besubstantially precluded.

The operation of an apparatus for producing a beverage infusionconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention,and particularly an apparatus that is so constructed and arranged as tobe automatically operable, will now be understood in view of theforegoing discussion. An embodiment particularly adapted for use in thehome has hereinbefore been described. For commercial or industrial use,a working head 90 has been described that enables the desired beverageinfusion to be produced automatically with the expenditure of a minimumamount of time, eifort, and attendance. The automatic operation is'etfectuated when the working head is operatively associated with the urnportion. Servicing of the working head is facilitated, in that, bysimply lifting it from its position of cooperation with the workinghead, the operating lever 270 will be exposed for manual operation. Theposition of the container 42 with respect to the cover portion 24' canthus [be determined with extreme facility by a simple manual operationof this lever. It can therefore be lowered to a position in which itextends below the cover portion 24 for removal of the coifee bean,cleansing, and the like. In addition, the working head, once it hasautomatically cooperated with the urn portion 10 to produce the desiredcoffee or beverage infusion, can be translated to another urn portion,to produce a further quantity of the desired beverage. This may beaccomplished in any suitable manner, as for example through the mediumof a suitable but yet simple crane assembly that can cooperate with alifting lug 336 fixedly positioned upon the plate 1.14 particularly forthat purpose. In this manner, it has been found that one Working headcan service a minimum of ten urns per hour, thus being capable ofproducing thirty gallons of the desired beverage infusion in threegallon batches. In this connection, it will be realized that the speedof an operating cycle of the container 42 can be varied, since it isproduced through the speed of the motor 122 and the transmission orreduction gear assembly 124. Inasmuch as these elements are removable asa unit from the inner housing 116, the size of these elements may easilyand quickly be changed.

In view of the foregoing, it will now be seen that each and every one ofthe objects and advantages of an apparatus for producing a beverageinfusion can be achieved when such an apparatus is constructed inaccordance with the principles thereof. Whether the apparatus ismanually or automatically operable, the most desirable elements of thecoffee bean are captured. This is true for each and every one of thereasons hereinbefore set forth, among which is the fact that the urnportion is so constructed and arranged as to present a minimum by-passbetween it and the container 42, while yet providing some differentialof dimension to accommodate imperfectness in the cylindricalconfiguration of the urn portion. This is particularly true when it isfabricated of such materials as glass, or the like. While a minimumby-pass is provided in the reservoir portion 12 of the urn 10, a rapidby-pass is provided at the flared portion. This precludes the liquid inthe reservoir from being forced upwardly too far when the containerrises. Thus, the dimensions of the flared portion are chosen so as tokeep the cover portion 24 or 24 clear of the contents of the reservoirportion. The displacement of the liquid therein, or the infusion, by thecontainer and the coffe bean disposed therewithin, plus any additionalarea for the turbulence that occurs during the actual infusion step, istherefore provided for by the angle of inclination and the length orheight of the flared portion.

The hermetically sealed relationship between the cover portion 24 or 24'and the peripheral flange insures that the most desirable elements ofthe coffee bean will be captured. This is true notwithstanding theprovision of the pouring spout 25, which is positioned well above theseat or juncture 22, to thus maintain this hermetic relationship. Nor isthis relationship disturbed at the location where the carrier rod 36 or36 enters the cover portion, in view of the fact that the gasket orsealing element at that location is flexible and can be compressed.

In the automatic embodiment, it will be understood that the unit is notassembled until the water or liquid base has first reached its brewingtemperature, and is then poured into the reservoir portion 12 of the urn10. While the water or liquid base is entering the liquid reservoir, thecoffee bean is disposed within the container, and the latter then drawnor lifted to its highest position in the cover portion 24', as throughthe medium of the manual operating lever 270. At the proper time, thecover portion 24 is then inserted into the urn portion 10, at the flange20, enabling the container then to proceed through its operating cycles.For each operating cycle of the container, there is an immersion period,during which time the container is disposed within the liquid base inthe reservoir portion 12, and a drain-off period, during which time thecontainer is located or disposed within the cover portion 24 or 24. Ashereinbefore pointed out, this insures that the coffee bean containedwithin the container will be completely wet-through. The unit ismaintained in its hermetically sealed relationship for a final drain-offperiod after the last cycle of operation is completed. Only then is thisair-tight or hermetic relationship disrupted. The working head 90 canthen be translated to another urn portion 10, subsequent, of course, tothe container being cleansed and supplied with a fresh quantity ofcoffee beans.

It will now be understood that numerous modifications fall within thescope of the present invention. Thus, the driving assembly 132 maycomprise, instead of the endless belt 134, a simple rod having a coilspring disposed thereabout. By providing the follower assembly 152 Withan element disposed within the coils of such a spring, and by causingthe rod and thus the spring to rotate, the follower assembly will becaused to reciprocate. Another alternative is to substitute a rod havingcriss-cross threading for the endless belt 134, and again providing thefollower assembly with an element to move along the threads. Cross-overgrooves at the upper and lower ends of such a rod would enable thefollower assembly to reciprocate both vertically upwardly anddownwardly. Other modifications are also within the scope of thisinvention. Thus, while the container has hereinbefore been described,disclosed, shown and illustrated as comprising three basic componentparts, an alternative construction would provide for a containercomprising simply a top portion, and a side portion having a bottom.These two components could be removably associated with one another inany suitable manner, and for example the use of a construction similarto that illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 5 can be invoked. tion similar tothat illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 5 can an apparatus for producing aninfusion of coffee. It will, however, be understood that an infusion ofother beverages can be produced by an apparatus constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention. Whenever thematter from which the infusion is derived has a tendency to swell, asdoes a coffee bean, then it will be understood that the dimensions ofthe container 42 must be chosen so that the volume presented thereby isgreater than the maximum volume to be occupied by the matter, and theadditional volume occupied as a result of its swelling. For example, inthe instance of producing an infunsion of coffee the dimensions of thecontainer are chosen so that the volume presented thereby isapproximately one-and-onehalf times the volume to be occupied by thecoffee bean when swollen.

After reading the aforegoing detailed description of an exemplary andillustrated form of the present invention, it will be understood thatthe objects set forth at the outset of this specification havesuccessfully been achieved. However, while the invention has been shown,illustrated, described and disclosed in terms of an illustrated embodi'ment or modification which it has assumed in practice, the scope of theinvention should not be deemed to be limited thereby, such otherembodiments or modifications intended to be reserved especially if theyfall within the scope of the claims here appended.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for producing a beverage infusion com prising an urnedportion having, in turn, a liquid reservoir, a flared portion extendingupwardly and outwardly from said liquid reservoir, a peripheral flangeextending upwardly from said flared portion and a seat at the juncturebetween said flared portion and said peripheral flange; a pouring spoutbeing located along said peripheral flange and above the seat defined bythe juncture between the flange and the flared portion; the angle ofinclination and length of said flared portion being chosen to provide arapid by-pass between the container and the flared portion upon theupward stroke of said container; the area of the by-pass about thecontainer at the location of said flared portion being suflicient toenable the liquid caused to flow upwardly by the container on its upwardstroke to enter the by-pass and return to the liquid reservoir withoutentering the cover portion, enabling the cover portion to remain cleanand free of liquid in the reservoir; said liquid reservoir furthercomprising a cover portion disposed in an hermetically sealedrelationship with respect to said urned portion, said cover portionbeing particularly adapted to be disposed in an hermetically sealedrelationship with respect to said peripheral flange, and upon said seat;and

a container particularly adapted to be reciprocated through at least onecycle relative to a liquid base disposed in said liquid reservoir; thedimensions of said container and said liquid reservoir being chosen todefine a minimum by-pass therebetween; and wherein said containercomprises a top portion; a bottom portion; and a center portionextending between said top and bottom portions; and wherein said top andbottom portions each comprise at least one mesh insert, the insert insaid top portion being recessed, and the insert in said bottom portionprotruding therefrom.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said top and bottom portions each comprise:

a finger extending therefrom into said container;

said fingers each having:

a leg extending therefrom; and wherein:

said center portion comprises:

a prong extending therefrom towards the center of said container;

the number of prongs corresponding with the number of fingers extendingfrom said top or bottom portions;

the length of said fingers being chosen so as to dispose the leg of thefingers extending from said top portion below a corresponding one of theprongs, and the leg of the fingers extending from the bottom portionabove a corresponding one of the prongs, when said legs are disposed inparallel relationship with respect to one another.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein:

a carrier rod extends upwardly from said container, and is removablyoperatively associated therewith:

said carrier rod extends outwardly from said cover portion, andcomprises:

a handle enabling an operator to effectuate at least one cycle ofoperation comprising an immersion and a drain-off period of saidcontainer relative to the liquid in said liquid reservoir.

4. Apparatus for producing a beverage infusion comprising an urnedportion having a liquid reservoir; an automatic working headparticularly adapted to be disposed in an hermetically sealedrelationship with respect to said urn, and comprising a containerdriving assembly; means for etfectuating the operation of said containerdriving assembly; a selector assembly for pre-selecting the number ofcycles of operation each comprising an emersion and drain-01f period ofsaid container; a counter assembly for automatically efiectuating thedesired preselected number of operating cycles; said counter assemblybeing inherently movable to one of a plurality of positions. the limitof movement of said counter assembly to this position being defined bysaid selector assembly, and being movable to another of said pluralityof positions by said container driving assembly; and a cycle selectionlever assembly causing the operation of said means for operating saidcontainer driving assembly, said lever assembly comprising a switchassembly for completing a circuit to said means for operating saidcontainer driving assembly; and wherein said urned portion furthercomprises a container particularly adapted to be automaticallyreciprocated through at least one cycle comprising an emersion periodand a drain-off period relative to a liquid base disposed in said liquidreservoir by said working head.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein:

said cycle selection lever assembly is movable between a plurality ofpositions;

said lever assembly, when disposed in one of said positins, beingrendered inoperative to cause the operation of said switch assembly; andwherein:

said working head further comprises:

a plunger assembly responsive to positioning said working head inoperative association with said urn portion for moving said cycleselection lever assembly to another of said plurality of positions inwhich said lever assembly is rendered] operative to cause the operationof said switch assembly.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein:

said working head further comprises:

a service lever assembly for causing the operation of said means foroperating said container driving assembly, and comprising:

a service lever switch assembly disposed in parallel relationship withrespect to the switch of said cycle selection lever assembly forcompleting a circuit to the means for operating said container drivingassembly;

said service lever assembly and said switch assembly being constructedand arranged so as to be capable of closing and opening the circuit tothe means for operating the container driving assembly as desired,enabling the container to be disposed in any position relative to theworking head, further enabling the container and the working head to beserviced, the supply of material from which the infusion is to bederived replenished, and the like.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein:

said service lever switch assembly is normally biased to a position inwhich the circuit to said means is closed; wherein:

said service lever assembly comprises a spring for biasing said switchto a position in which the circuit to said means is open; and wherein:

said service lever, when disposed in one of a plurality of positions,enables said spring to apply a force to said switch assembly sufiicientto open the circuit to said means;

said service lever, when disposed in another of said plurality ofpositions, being pivotally movable to vary the force of said springapplied to said switch assembly between a value sufficient to open thecircuit to said means, and a value at which the force of the spring isovercome by said switch assembly, and the circuit to said means isclosed.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein:

a lever assembly selector plate is operatively associated with saidplunger assembly, and is responsive to the movement thereof;

said selector plate having a first notch enabling said cycle selectionlever assembly to be rendered inoperative, and for causing said cycleselection lever assembly to be moved to an operative position when saidplunger assembly is disposed in operative position with respect to saidurn portion;

said selector plate having a second and third notch in which saidservice lever assembly is capable of being selectively disposed whensaid working head is disassociated with respect to said urn portion,said second notch corresponding to a position in which said spring issufficient to open the circuit to said means for operating saidcontainer driving assembly, and said third notch corresponding to theother position of said service lever in which it is pivotally movable;

said selector plate, in response to the movement of said plungerassembly when said working head is operatively associated with said urnportion, moving said service lever assembly to an inoperative position.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein:

said plunger assembly comprises:

a movable abutment for rendering said counter assembly inoperative whensaid working head is disassociated relative to said urn portion;

said abutment being moved to render said counter assembly operative inresponse to the movement of said plunger assembly when said working headis operatively associated with said urn portion.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said counter assemblycomprises:

a counting cam biased to move in one direction to the one of saidplurality of positions;

said counting cam being movable to the other of said plurality ofpositions by said container driving assembly;

said counting cam, in the other position, being disposed at the limit ofits movement in the direction of movement corresponding thereto, andbeing disposed in engagement with the spring of said service leverassembly, for causing said spring to apply a force to said service leverswitch assembly, and opening the circuit to said means operating saidcontainer driving assembly, enabling said container to constantly andaccurately be disposed in a position corresponding to the beginning ofan operating cycle within the coverportion of said working head;

said counting cam and said spring being inoperative to effect openingthe circuit to said means when said cycle selection lever assembly is inan operative position, and the switch of said cycle selection leverassembly is in a position in which the circuit to said means is closed.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein:

said counter assembly further comprises:

a link for causing the switch of said cycle selection lever assembly tobe moved to a position opening the circuit to said means in response toand upon completion of the movement of said counter assembly through thedesired pre-selected number of cycles of operation.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein:

the means for causing the operation of said container driving assemblyis so constructed and arranged as to present an assemblage of elementsthat can be disassociated from said working head substantially as a unitto facilitate cleaning, repairing, replacement and the like.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,053,735 2/1913 Lefevre 99-2971,506,712 8/1924 McAllen 99-289 X 1,552,565 9/1925 Morton et a1. 992971,699,303 1/1929 Mennicke et a1. 99--297 3,020,823 2/1962 Musso 99297 XFOREIGN PATENTS 1,249,992 11/1960 France.

538,794 9/1932 Germany.

501,710 11/1954 Italy.

WILLIAM 1. PRICE, Primary Examiner.

